About Art History
Art historians analyze the art of past and present in order to understand the relationship of a monument, image or work to individual, social, cultural and historical forces. This field is one of the few that trains students to look at and analyze images systematically. In our global world, which is dominated by images, training of this sort becomes increasingly relevant.
Degree Information
By studying art history, students prepare themselves to live in and understand the material world around them. An art history degree represents a good intellectual foundation for many potential careers, whether working in an art gallery or museum, in historical preservation, in archives and libraries, in art and antique dealing, in television or film, in education, in publishing or advertising.
Student Organizations
Students can become involved in various student organizations on campus: the student government sponsored Visual Arts Board; Students Involved in the Art of Metalsmithing (S.I.A.M.) club; the Coalition of Ceramic Designers (C2D) club; and the DotCom club.
An active Art Education Student Chapter affiliated with the New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) and the National Art Education Association (NAEA) initiates numerous professional development activities for students to polish leadership skills, to meet and work with seasoned teachers, to develop a sense of esprit de corps with their peers, and to acquire a professional disposition.
Other opportunities include student field trips, on and off campus exhibitions, and an annual student sale.
Applied Research Grants
Buffalo State's Undergraduate Research Office provides opportunities for our design students to apply for undergraduate summer research fellowships, research grants, and travel grants to present results of their research. Students participating in research projects also present at the annual Buffalo State Student Research and Creativity Conference.
Many students have internships at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, the Albright Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo History Museum, or Hallwalls and other regional arts institutions.
We're in the Museum District
Buffalo State has three major museums within immediate walking distance. Our classes regularly meet in the galleries to experience art directly and tour the facilities.
Get Involved
The Burchfield Penney Art Center offers a student program- ACE (The Art and Culture Enthusiasts) which engages students in the daily operations of the museum.
Famous Architecture
Buffalo is named the "best planned city" by the major American architect Frederick Law Olmstead, Buffalo hosts many monuments and buildings for the student of architecture and city planning.